Posts Tagged ‘Justin Tuck’

In 2008 New York Giants defensive end, Justin Tuck, and his wife, Lauran Tuck, launched a fundraising charity with the goal of providing reading materials to children in communities of New York, New Jersey and Alabama, encouraging them to read. Tuck’s R.U.S.H. for Literacy inspires children to Read, Understand, Succeed and Hope.

Since this program began, books have been delivered into the hands of as many as 10,000 children. As well, schools and homes have been the recipients of over 50,000 books. And as of June 2011 Tuck’s R.U.S.H. for Literacy has raised over $1 million. Most recently, Justin Tuck held a celebrity billiards tournament, continuing his efforts to raise funds and promote education for kids in America.

The statistics illustrate that a great percentage of children do not have access to books and that fewer children prioritize reading as they advance through school. Families, too, are shown to be an essential component in the success of children reading. Given these statistics, the importance of Tuck’s R.U.S.H. for Literacy campaign is evident.

Nowadays families can enjoy a number of activities that bring families closer together and promote physical fitness. Family members can find amusement in a game of pool, shooting darts and merely watching a favorite movie with homemade popcorn. Mental fitness, however, is as important as physical and emotional well-being. Reading exercises your brain and promotes mental fitness. This, too, gives your family something to share together as you talk about new ideas and challenge one another in trivia games that test your knowledge.

I applaud Justin Tuck’s efforts to raise our awareness of the importance of literacy, as well as his ongoing efforts to raise funds for children who do not have access to books. His endeavor is a reminder to all of us that sometimes the simplest activities are the most fun . . . and the most important.